Speak IT is a St. Louis-based software company that specializes in voice-enabled assistance tools for healthcare providers. Their solution leverages dictation-based automation to turn voice into action. In doing so, Speak IT reduces clinical documentation time, improves physician quality of life, and ultimately improves patient care. The Speak IT team includes: Kai Skallerud (MD/MBA ’23/22), Maxwell Popper (LA ’22), Chris Callan (MBA ’22), Quan Khuc (EN ’23), Ajla Salic (BU ’22), Maddy Singleton (LA ’24) Issa Cook (JD/MBA ’23/22), Julian Lu (LA ’24), and Michael Cafiero (LA ’24). Speak IT founder, Kai Skallerund, answered the questions for this blog.

Website: https://www.speakinfotech.com

Tell us your startup story – What is the problem you’re solving?

My inspiration for Speak IT originated on the front lines of clinical care where I saw the devastating effects of healthcare provider burnout due to the electronic health record. This problem doesn’t just impact providers, burnout has a trickle-down effect to patients as well.

What is your solution to that problem?

Speak IT is a mobile-enabled software solution that uses speech recognition to increase the efficiency of keyboard and mouse tasks in the electronic health record. In doing so, our product improves healthcare provider quality of life and simultaneously benefits patient care.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

1. First, you must fall in love with the problem. 2. The triple bottom line – People, Profits, Planet. 3. If you ask for money, you get advice. If you ask for advice, you get money. 4. You’re not always right…. In fact, you’re almost always wrong! 5. If you want to be successful, run towards the fire. 6. Customer discovery never ends.

What do you love about entrepreneurship?

I believe that entrepreneurship is the epitome of intellectual stimulation, competition, creativity, and emotion. Truly, there’s never a dull moment. What could be better than that?

What advice would you give to someone considering creating a startup or entering an entrepreneurship competition?

Entrepreneurship is full of unknowns. You won’t know if you’ll be successful, you won’t know what hurdles you’ll face, you won’t even know if you’ll like the process. However, contrary to “you won’t know until you try,” my advice is that you first assess if “trying” is the right decision for you. Consider if you are prepared to handle the stressors that come with ambiguity. Think about the time you can reasonably commit. And so on… This honest self-reflection is critical to future success.

What activities, student groups, professors, or classes had the biggest impact on you during your time at WashU?

I serve as CFO for Sling Health’s St. Louis chapter and manage a number of the national organization’s external partnerships. Sling supports entrepreneurial students that tackle healthcare’s most pressing needs. I conducted research with Dr. Alan Lambert for 3 years as a WashU undergrad, and he was instrumental in my professional development. As an MBA, Professor Doug Villhard is a true role model who goes the extra mile for students. His teachings will stay with me for years to come.

The winner of the Spring 2022 SVC will be announced at The Washington University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards Presented by the Skandalaris Center on April 14. All are welcome to attend the awards ceremony to see which teams will win non-dilutive funding for their venture.